Floor mop



Nov. `13 1923.

A. J. HANKE FLOOR MOP Filed March 31. 1922 Patented Nev. i3, 1923.

AUGUST J'. HANKE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FLOOR MOP.

Application filed March 31, 1922.

! 10 all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, AUGUST J. HANKE, a citizen ot' the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stat-e of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Floor Mops, or"

Vwhich the following is a full, clear, concise,

e lthe mop in and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The invention relates to floor mops such as areV ordinarily used in washing or dusting floors in homes, o'liices, stores and other places.

The prime object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive holder for the mop proper, i. e., the mop cloth or mop yarn, hereinafter called mop7 which holder may be punched, stamped, or otherwise formed into the desired shape and con structed of relatively light material, yet will be strong enough to successfully withstand the various strains which will be applied to it when it iS in use.

It is a further object ot the invention to provide a construction whereby the mop can be quickly and readily inserted in the holder, and can be as quickly and readily removed therefrom.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a lock of simple construction for securing the clamping arms ot the holder and the mop in locked relation to each other, and to prevent their becoming accidentally unlocked and permitting the mop to be loosened or released during use.

It is an object of the invention to provide a lock, a portion ot which is arranged `at an angle, or at one side of the center of Athe locking element, when said element is arranged in locked relation to the other parts of the structure' and is in its normal operative position. so that gravit-y may act and t in` maintaining the locking element locked relation and prevent ythe separation o the clamping ari, s ot the j iiop'holde; and the mop.

Y lt is a further objectof the invention'to provide a means which. wi ll coo perate with tliepjlocking element and maintain the lock- Y ing element in its locked relation.

@It is a further object of the invention to provide a 'simple hinge vconnection between' the clamping arms of the mop holder.

'It is a further objectof the invention to .arrange the clamping arms rof the holder. soV

Serial No. 548,339.

that one arm is hinged to and swings away from the other in a plane longitudinal of the mop sticlnas distinguished from an arm which is pivoted to and swings away 'from the other arm in a plane transverse of the mop stick.

ln the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the mop holder is composed of the usual handle, or mop stick, clamping arms and supporting braces. The inopstick has secured thereto a fixed clamping arm. From adjacent the ends of the fixed clamping arm the supporting braces extend to the mop stick and are secured to the handle. These braces are secured to the handle by means of bolts and nuts, or other Jfastening means. Each of the supporting braces secured to the handle by means ot bolts and nuts is provided with a curved portion 'for closely engaging the mop stick, which is usually round. An additional or swinging clamping arm is arranged :in association with the lixed clamping` arm. One end of the lined clamping arm is provided with one part of a hinge, and the other end of the Xcd clamping arm is provided with a means for engaging the locking element. One end of the swinging clamping arm is provided with the other part ot the hinge, and the other end of the swinging clamping arm is provided with the locking element referred to. The locking element includes a ring ot' a certain shape and configuration. which ring is employed to releasably lock the ends of the fixed clamping arm and the swinging clan'lping arm., respectively.

The hinge connection between the fixed clamping arm and the swinging clamping arm permits the latter to be swung at the hinge in a plane longitudinal ot the mop stick. allowing` the mop to he arranged and clamped in the holder between the lined and l' .A ciampi ff arms. or to be removed i l this is found necessary or m whe-ii l desirable:

The end of the from the hi l sides of thc i ne ci: ein'itvthereoi. nged relatively to the end ot the fixed arm so that the ring 'which engages the notches held at an angle to the vertical when the ring is arranged to lock the two clamping arms against separation. Y p Y The lockingring is adapted to be passed over the end of the arm having-the notches,

to thereby allor.7 the ring to be arranged to lock t e tivo clilinp'ing arms together. To accomplish this7 one part of the ring is constructed ot n sntiicient dimension or diameter to allow it to be passed 'o'i'er lthe end ot therarin to which it is to be locked.; The locking ringis also constructed to provide another portion oit o smaller diameter, which engages the end of the erin in the notches :ind prevents the sepa-ration of the chiinping` firms after the mop has been in sei-ted betiiteen the arms, yetperinits the locking element to be readily released and the mop readily removed and replaced when this is desired.

The 'ends ot the :irins es assembled are 'constructed so that curved surfaces end edges are presentedT thus making it easier to handle the niop, since it will not 'cfitch so re'zidily in these round edges as it would Were'th'ey sharp and zing'iilnlr In addition, the rounded edges will lessen 'the possibility of scratching und mari-ing the woodwork and furniture when the mop isbeing' need.`

The invention will be described and more readily understood When rend in conjunction With the accompanyingdrziiiiings forinin'g npzirt hereof`r which illustrate one einbod'iinent 'oliI which the invention is susceptible" it beingobvious tlnit changes und modifications may be ninde WithoutV departing* i'r'oni thespirit of the e} i'p`ended claims orniing zipert hereof.

'In the dritw'ings, i p

Fig. 1 is a' front elevation otl n inop holder constructed `according` to the invention `and showing` it applied to a niop stick und 'engti'ging the mop;

Fig'. 2 is iin enlarged e id rien' ot the 'structure shoivn in Fig. 1;

Fig'ji is :l top pl'zin View oi" n portion ot the struct-nre;

Fig. 4f -isn section taken online 4 4 of Fig: 2; and

Fig. 5 is un end yiew oit the liin'o'ed end dif the n'iop holder and fl-.

The'strulctiite olt the invention coniimises the 'usuel liti'iidle or mop stick 1.0. ptir o F nfiettllijo :ingle supporting brces 11 and 12, the metallic fixed clzinipi'n'o erin, genen my designed, is, the mening. stinging ii'rin" generally desiigni'ed 1.4i., :ind the loci'- ing element generallyA designated 15.

The'supporting b'riees 1i. sind 12 are secured to, and are held 4with relation to, the nip 'stick or handle 10 by'in'eins of the bolts zifiid, iititslf and 17. The bolts nre passed through 'tlie cnrifed portions 18 and 19 ofthe siipporting' brices 1l ai'idl, respectii'ely, and `also thiogh thev iiiop stick 10.'A The siipportii'ig braces 11 Vand 12 tire provided with the bent ends 2() and 21, which nre `secii'rd tot-he'utlr entlsjo'f 'the Hired clnniping illusiltiiod in Figs. lr` 2A suitable manner. The fixed 'clampingV erin secured to the end ot the ni'op stick/10 by :i nail, screw, or other ineens, 22 passing through thezirinl :ind into the end ofthe 'nio'p stick 10. vThe supporting braces 11 und l2 provide the proper strength and rigidity to the mop holder ind prevent the clamping arms from beingl bent by the various strains applied to them during the niopping opereti'on. l

(lne et the ends olf'A the/liked clninping :ii-1n is recessed'or'cut nivtiy as et und the nniteriel :it the opposite sides oit the ent sway portion is bent nponitselt to provide the loops or knuckle Q4. T he knuckle p'rovides one part of the hinge striicture Where'- by the ssingingA clamping 'erin 1liny be swung' in a plane longitudinal of the inop stick to'engnge :ind relese the Vinp Q5 when released by the. locking' element-15.f-

The end of the swinging' clanilr 'no' trni 1st adjacent the knuckle 24; is fornied'itith the pintle portion. 26 and the neck 2T., The opposite ends of the pintle Q6 are :irrnnge'd Within uthe loopsV or knuckle Q4 of the fixed cliinping rin 13, and thus complete the hingeconne'ction whereby the swinging' "clz'i'inpingnrni14iny be erung toward :ind :rivzty 'frointhe fixed'clninping erin to ellloiv the ino'pt'ov be tts'socizite'dwith, o'r reinoved fron1'5`tlie cla'nfpin'g* ar'nis.

The swing-inge 'clampingerin .'14 is bent ai. right angles adjacent the hiiiged'end indicati-ed it Q8, providing the 'poi-tionspf) and 30. This construction eiizibles the swinging clamping" irin 14: to be held inspecedrelntion to' the viied clamping irni 13 and provides :i space for theireeeption of the niop, which is noriimlly srrii'iiged between the lixed end swinging),v elu'npingtii'nis ot' theY niop holder. r I l l The end ofthe swingingV els'iiiping itin 14 iiviiy 'troui'the hinge Connection is looped :is indiciitcd di 51, :fiid'hiis piifoiiully" secured thereto the lockingI elei'iicnt or rin;Y The ring i5 is prefeniblyfoi-ined of i certain i'tntiiioin its shownV in tl't'e dizifivings. It is provided with the straight portionQ82` which jourmiied 'in the loop Br rn'ied with the eight p i'ttllel side 'ortiin might lelside pollionsl iidfil' of tlie-lofcl'ing elenient 15 is oit n slightly'1 titer'di' sion thnn the width ofthe 'iiredljinping zu'in 13. 'I`lius,`\i'li'eii the adje-ce t eiidf the siriifm ig clamping' ii lfll'inoved-to`ward the liked clnnipingnun 13, the lotkii 4'l Y nient or 15 be plssed viie/t e" rid of the zfed clinpifiig erini wiiit eingegelocking ring-151m 'a smiirnemieiz @impots-afm is seitens the kering. e1@- ment or rin`g are provided with the notches 36 and 37 which cooperate with the arc portion 35 of the locking ring 15 to prevent the locking ring 15 from moving from its inwardly i inclined position, in which position it is maintained to lock the mop within the clamping arms. The extremity of the fixed clamping arm adjacent the notches 36 and 37 is bent and turned on itself to form a rounded end and a transverse strengthening rib 38. The rib 38 also cooperates with the notches 36 and 37 to maintain the parts in locked relation during the mopping operation.

By referring to Figs. 1, 3 and 11, it will be noted that when the various parts of the mop' holder are in normal operative position the locking element 15 is arranged at an angle to the vertical, or in other words, it is inclined inwardly. rlhus, if the swinging clamping arm 14 is moved toward the fixed clamping arm 13 during the mopping operation, the force of gravity moves the locking element or ring 15 inwardly toward the mop stick, which maintains the necessary locked relation of the fixed and swinging clamping arms, and thus the accidental separation of the clamping arms and the accidental removal of the mop is prevented. The tendency of the ring 15 in the construction shown and described, when pressure is eX- erted on the swingingclamping arm, is to move the ring 15 in an upward and inward direct-ion in the notches 36 and 37. The weight of the ring 15 causes it, after it has moved its limit in the notches, to fall inwardly and on the fixed clamping arm 13 or on the bent end of the reinforcing and supportingbrace bar 11. Then the pressure is released from the swinging clamping arm 14:, the swinging clamping arm draws the locking ring 15 downwardly in the notches 36 and 37, so that the end of the arc portion of the ring is drawn away from its inward resting place against the xed clamping arm or the bent end 20, to a position of rest in the notches 36 and 37. As stated, the bent strengthening rib 38 cooperates with the notches to keep the clamping arms and the locking element 15 in locked relation.

From the foregoing description it is evident that an extremely simple mop holder is provided, which may be manufactured at a relatively low cost and sold at a correspondingly reduced cost. It is further inanifest that an exceedingly simple and inexpensive clamping lock and hinge arrangement is provided to releasably lock the parts in associated relation, and in which the lock cannot be accidently moved to release the parts during the period in which the mop is used, or, in fact, at any time unless the parts are manually released.

It is further manifest that a simple and inexpensive hinge arrangement is provided which permits the swinging clamping arm to rotate in a plane longitudinal of the mop stick, and which allows the ready clamping and unclamping of the mop.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire to cover by Letters Patent is:

In a mop holder, the combination of a means for engaging and holding a mop, said means including a fixed clamping arm and a movable clamping arm, said arms being hingedly connected together, an end of one of the arms being formed to provide the knuckle of the hinge and an end of the other of said arms being formed to provide the pintle of the hinge, and a pivoted locking ring adapted to maintain the other ends of said clamping arms in locked relation, the pivot lof said locking ring being disposed so that a portion of said locking ring is arranged at one side of the pivot when arranged in locked relation to hold said locking ring against release.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 27th day of March, A. D. 1922.

AUGUST J. HANKE. 

